Feed the Gap: Managing Unpaid Meal Charges
Feed the Gap: Managing Unpaid Meal Charges
Feed the Gap: Managing Unpaid Meal Charges
Boise’s procedures for handling negative balances:
• Credit limit offered ranging from $5-$15.
• Weekly letters sent/mailed home.
• Automatic phone calling system.
• ‘Holding meals’ until student brought back funds.
• All negative balances to new school year until 2013.
• Many schools had their own ‘system’ to help prevent
students from going without a lunch.
Feed the Gap: Managing Unpaid Meal Charges
Feed the Gap & Boise School District
“Schools know how to feed
children, so why should we
reinvent the wheel?”
Feed the Gap: Managing Unpaid Meal Charges
The Pilot Program
2 Elementary Schools for 3-4 months o Establish procedures and accountability
practices.
o Collect data.
o Seek principal’s and food service staff ’s
feedback and suggestions.
Quadrant of schools o Included Junior High Schools and their ‘feeder’ schools.
o Data collected from schools provided best estimated of the funds
needed for entire District.
Feed the Gap: Managing Unpaid Meal Charges
The Process • Point of Sale indicates student exceeding credit.
• Employees change transaction and charged meal to a “Feed the
Gap” key.
• Weekly reports to the principals.
o Student usage
o Communication to families
• Is family receiving notification of balance?
• Does family need assistance with application?
• Does family need temporary assistance from the
account?
Feed the Gap: Managing Unpaid Meal Charges
Accountability Practice:
• Monthly summary
o Students (unidentified)
o Number of meals per student
o Total cost per schools
• Monthly invoices
• Accountability Committee
• District procedures for emergency meals and snacks
Feed the Gap: Managing Unpaid Meal Charges
"The mission of Feed
the Gap is to eliminate
child hunger in Idaho
by raising money for
underfunded Idaho-
based children's food
programs."
Feed the Gap: Managing Unpaid Meal Charges
Feed the Gap: Managing Unpaid Meal Charges
The Board
Officers
Founder/President Vice President
Secretary
Treasurer
Board of Directors
Advertising Agency — Owner
Web Specialist School District Supervisor Food & Nutrition Services
Board of Advisors
National Web Marketing
Career Development, Realtor Group
USDA Child Nutrition Programs State Director
Bank CEO
Law Firm President University Dean
Marketing Firm Director
Journalist/Author/Filmmaker
Newspaper President & Publisher
Bank President/CEO Events Consultant
Attorneys
Compliance & Risk Management
Law and Strategy
Feed the Gap: Managing Unpaid Meal Charges
Feed the Gap: Managing Unpaid Meal Charges
Feed the Gap: Managing Unpaid Meal Charges
Questions?